The following contains spoilers for The Last of Us Season 1, now streaming on HBO Max.
The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey discussed how they approached homophobic reactions to the show.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Ramsey was asked about the show's seventh episode, "Left Behind," which explores the relationship between Ellie (Ramsey) and her best friend and crush, Riley (Storm Reid), and if Ramsey expected the negative response it received from some viewers. "Going into that episode, I wasn't even thinking of the homophobic trolls, to be honest," they answered. "I didn't register. In my personal life, gay storylines and gay people existing is so normal to me now that it blows my mind still when I'm on Twitter and I accidentally come across a homophobic tweet. I'm like, 'Wow, homophobia still exists in this modern world.' It's so bizarre to me that people can still keep those views. I find it actually quite fascinating."
Ramsey continued that they hope other stories will approach and normalize same-sex relationships similarly to The Last of Us. "I know that there are diversity checkboxes and stuff, but the aim is for those to not have to even exist in the future," they explained. "The aim is for it just to be an automatic response: Why wouldn't we include these people?"
"Left Behind" was the second time The Last of Us introduced queer characters in its inaugural season. The third episode, "Long, Long Time," was primarily a flashback telling the story of survivalist Bill (Nick Offerman) who meets and falls in love with Frank (Murray Bartlett). While the episode was mostly met with overwhelming praise for its performances, script and direction, it was also the subject of review bombing online. Offerman has responded to trolls himself and defended the show by saying, "[Y]our brand of ignorance and hate is exactly why we make stories like this."
Despite backlash from a contingent of viewers, as well as some foreign markets editing out Ellie and Riley's kiss, responses to The Last of Us have been largely positive, in no small part because of its considered and open approach to writing LGBTQ+ characters. "I've had people message me and say that it's helped people come to terms with who they are," Ramsey said. "That's been really nice to hear as well. I guess I just want to be authentic."
The Last of Us is available to stream on HBO Max.
Source: Vanity Fair